Quilts in Progress

Ryland Henderson Griffin

2011-06-21T22:19:00.000-05:00

Ryland Henderson Griffin made his way into our lives Monday night, June 20, 2011 at 11:09. Ryland weighs 7 lbs , 9 oz and is 20 inches long. Both he and Rosalie are doing well. Snapper is doing well also. He was due July 10. Rosalie is glad to have him 3 extra weeks before she will return to the classroom in Aug.
I counted up our family members, Ryland is Jack Jack's 14 great-grandbaby and the family now numbers 46. It's a joke that we come in HERDS when we show up.
As Ryland and Rosalie reside in one hospital here in town, my oldest brother is in another hospital across town. He has had a bloodclot go through his lung. He had a biopsy done on lymph nodes in his groin several weeks ago. He hasn't gotten to hold Ryland yet. Ry and Rosie will most likely be discharged before Ernest.

It's a boy

2011-03-05T10:51:00.000-06:00

Ryland Henderson Griffin will arrive in July!

NEW BABY

2011-02-27T16:08:00.002-06:00

Snapper and Rosalie are having a baby. Ryland/Sawyer will arrive in July. Gender will be revealed at her next doc's appointment.
This will be Daddy's (gotta count them up Brian, Justin, Meghan, Ethan, Emma, Mya, Breana, Luke, Allie, Bryson, Brayden, Joseph, Abigail) 14th great-grandbaby. We are blessed with children. Heck, we are b-l-e-s-s-e-d with family. Period. Daddy has 5 living children with 6 wives/husbands; 12 grandchildren with 8 wives/husbands; and 13th great-grandchildren. We come in herds when we come!!!

Literally wrapped in prayer

2011-02-27T15:39:00.003-06:00

I am on a blog-crawl this afternoon. I am enjoying reading blogs and my quiet time quite nicely. Both Brayden and Abigail are napping. Buck and David are in the new house finishing up the punch list. Jenn is working. In short it's me time.
I'm sure I'm not the only one to blog crawl. At least I call it 'blog crawling'. I start on a favorite blog, read it, and the follow that writer's roll to a blog I've never read before. And repeat. And repeat....
Then it happened. I found gold.
Backstory--I often sew or quilt for loved ones. My loved ones know that I am a praying woman. They also know that my sewing etc isn't often for sale. And that is limited to folks I care about also.
This blogger was quilting a quilt for a neice with cancer and the child's sister. She mentioned that she wrote prayers with a permanent fabric pen for each girl on the seam allowances of the binding to literally 'wrap her in prayer'. The girls would not know exactly what their aunt had written because she had sewn the prayers up in the bindings. But they would know there was a prayer inside their quilts.
What a treasure! Thank you Lord for sending this to me.

I lost a friend this week. Completely unexpected. Stunningly unexpected. Dan taught in the room next to me. He did have a chronic desease he had fought since childhood. He was fine at school Wednesday. He was actually participating in an online college class when he died. His wife of 5 years found him after she returned home from church. They had adopted a 2 year old four months ago.
Dan, I'll miss your smile and encouraging words. I was blessed by you daily.

Jenn and David will move out next weekend. Their new home is completely finished. I will miss late night snuggles with the grands, and early morning- fresh from sleep- hugs. Our home will be much quieter without the two little ones. Abbi learned to crawl and walk here, she celebrated her first birthday and Christmas here. Brayden mastered opening doors, both inside and outside house doors, as well as the door of the fridge.

Time passing

2011-02-06T19:38:00.005-06:00

We took the grands to the Alexandria Zoo on 1/28/11.

We can do the wave!!!

Joe and Abby have matching carseats. Abby is tired of my taking pictures. She is only threatening to scream. No sound is actually being produced. She is too funny.

ICY ICY ICY

2011-02-06T19:31:00.003-06:00

We were iced Thursday night, and Friday morning. We lost power about 9:00 am Friday morning. We cranked up the generator about 4:30 pm as it began to get dark. Our power was restored about 10:30 Saturday morning.

Brayden didn't understand the 'no power' concept. He wanted to go to the store and get a TV that would work.

The iced trees were beautiful Saturday morning in the sunshine.

2011

2011-01-05T23:58:00.003-06:00

It has been a long time since my last post in May. Many things have happened here. David and Jenn moved into our home last August. They are building a new home next door. I love having them here, but our house has become quite crowded. They have a couple of months left in the building process.
Most importantly I have been able to grieve for Ann. I feel the loss of my sister still, but the hurt has blunted a tiny bit. Ann and I were born only 17 months apart. Most of all, Ann was apart of my life as long as I can remember. It's simply that I have no memories of before Ann was born.
On a happier note, all of the grands are growing like mad. Brayden has an amazing vocabulary for a 27 month-old child. Last week he was playing with a dinosaur. He said, "Mommy, it's a sighcertops." Mommy, not having heard Brayden try to pronounce the word triceratops, didn't understand him the four or five times he tried to tell her. "Mommy, it's a really big dinosaur." was his final word on the subject.
Joseph and Abigail are now walking independently. Joe will consent to holding my hand if I think it's necessary, but Abby does not want to be bothered. It is a fight to the bitter end to make her hold a hand when she walks. They are beginning to talk. They can say each others names, and Mamaw, Papaw, mama, dada, and BATH. Bathtime is a major event in our day around here. If the 3 grands hear a tub start to fill with water, they come runnning. The little ones are pulling at their clothes, and Brayden is shouting " It's my turn! It's my turn to take bath."

Long Time, No Posts

2010-05-07T19:04:00.018-05:00

WOW! I cannot believe that I haven't posted anything in over 2 months.

First things first, it is now gardening time in central Louisiana. Brayden was very helpful last Saturday with the watering. The red bushes in the upper right of the picture are Bottlebrush plants. They are native to Australia. But do very well in my backyard. I also have old fashioned dark pink gladiolas blooming. Ann gave me those glads. In that same clump of stuff, I have some Summer Snow flowers that I dug from my great-grandmother's garden. My daddy's cousin was so gracious in sharing our heirloom flowers. It's just a guess, but these bulbs are flowers Grandma Stallings probably got from her mother's yard, or maybe from her grandmother's.

This daylily seemed to need more water than any other plant.

Then, after a long afternoon's work,

it was relaxing to run through the water

while Mamaw sprayed off the porch.

Joseph is rolling over at will now. He is trying his best to crawl, but only manages to circle. His belly is still stuck to the floor. It is really hard to crawl and suck your thumb at the same time.

Abigail is finally growing. There isn't as much difference in their sizes any more.

I have three finished quilts since my last post. I have done both of the cuddle quilts for the little babies. I also finished the flannel quilt for Joe.

Joe and Brayd tag-team Papaw. I think the match ended in a draw.

Brayden Wants a Bottle

2010-02-19T18:55:00.005-06:00

I heard Brayden in the kitchen playing in the plastics. I could tell he wasn't into anything I needed to stop. After a few minutes, I decided to investigate.

This is what I found:

Brayden is very carefully taking everything out of the cabinet. He is placing it on the floor. Neatly. Neater than it was in the cabinet.

He tried every ring on every bottle. None would work. He tried every nipple, too. All he wanted was a bottle that could be put together. He worked and worked. He completely emptied the cabinet. Finally, he said, "Baba, Mamaw. Peas!" Translation: I want a bottle, Mamaw. Please.

I fixed him a bottle.

I now have an reorganized plastics cabinet.

Grands

2010-02-19T17:19:00.006-06:00

It has been a very eventful week in our family.

Thursday, we lost Ann. Saturday, we married off a nephew. Sunday, we celebrated a second birthday. Monday, we buried Ann. What a roller coaster of emotions we have had.

My nephew, Snapper, was married Saturday night. We added a wonderful young lady, Rosalie, to our family.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Henderson Griffin, IV......Snapper and Rosalie

Joseph was very happy during the wedding. He assisted Snapper in saying his vows. Every time Snap spoke, Joe cooed. Joe is already 3 months old!

I love this picture of me with the Little Babies, Joe and Abby. My sister-in-law, Sandi, took lots of pictures.
She is a professional photog in Little Rock. She wasn't working the wedding. She still took several hundred pics!

Brayden rearranged all of the balloon bouquets on our side of the reception hall. He wasn't courageous enough to venture across the room to get the rest. He still needs to be close to familiar people. And it was a little too dim for him to go very far.

Ally Grace celebrated her second birthday Sunday, Feb. 14. She is the sweetest valentine we ever got. She was one of Rosalie's flowergirls. She walked down the aisle as big as can be. Her papaw sent her from the back of the church to her mom at the front. We were hoping she wouldn't turn back to him. She was sooooo cute. All we could see from our side of the church was the big white bow on her head as she pranced up that aisle. She glanced at her mom and headed for the rest of the wedding party. She even tried to climb up the steps, but needed a little help.

I kept all 3 grands yesterday. I was tickled that my own children were giving me advice. I finally reminded them that THEY survived me. I am certain their children will also.

Ann

2010-02-14T09:26:00.003-06:00

Rachel Ann Griffin Ferrant
August 11, 1963-February 11, 2010
Beloved Wife, Mother, Daughter, & Sister

I lost my sister, Ann, to her cancer Thursday night, February 11, 2010. She slipped away about 7:40 pm on the prettiest night of the year. We had one of our very rare snowfalls that night.

This was the scene out my back door Friday morning.

Life after the 1st

2010-01-07T17:12:00.003-06:00

I finished Joe's sweater. It is too cute for words.
I am knitting a hat for Ann. She was moved today to rehab. She is about 20 minutes away. Ann will stay in rehab to regain use of her left arm. She lost the use of it to the tumor.
Dale, Ann's husband, is blind. He isn't totally blind, he has some functional vision. He can't drive. One of the 2 trips to and from the Hospital in Shreveport, the ambulance company agreed to allow him to ride with Ann in the ambulance to and from Alexandria. (a 2 hour drive). They would not allow him to ride home with her to the rehab Hospital today. One of his sisters have to go to get him. I don't know the difference from one trip to the next. It is the same ambulance company. Still no quilting, I have to finish the Christmas quilts for the babies.

Knitting progress

2009-12-29T20:25:00.002-06:00

Since I have been sick, I have been knitting a sweater for Joseph. It is the Baby Sophisticate by Linden Heflin. I found it online. It is a raglan sweater, knit in stockingette, with a rolled collar. It is a pretty quick knit. I hope not to find a lot of errors when the meds wear off. I have to finish the sleeves. It fits him very well.
I haven't felt like climbing the stairs to work on any quilts. I have 2 baby quilts to finish that were supposed to be Christmas gifts. However, Abby and Joe won't remember that their quilts were given to them after Dec 25.
John and Vanessa will get theirs after the first.

My heart is aching

2009-12-29T10:43:00.002-06:00

Just before Christmas, my younger sister, Ann, received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. She has tumors in her brain also. SHe is about 2 hours away, about to undergo brain surgery. They will try to remove the largest brain tumor, and treat the other 2 with radiation and chemo. The abdominal masses will be treated at a later date.
Ann has 2 daughters, Susan and Stephanie. Susan is 21. Stephanie will graduated HS this spring.
Ann has asked for pictures of my youngest grandbaby, Abby, because she hasn't gotten to see her.
I can't go to be with her because I have the flu. Or what the doc diagnosised as the flu over the phone. I think I actually have bronchitis. Regardless, I can't be around Ann.

3 Babies

2009-12-06T20:16:00.002-06:00

I FINALLY got to hold all 3 babies together today. I've waited at least 8 months for this event. Brayden was a little contrary, but David was able to snap a couple of pics with all 3. I was a baby "hog" for a while, holding both little babies. Joseph was trying to decide if he was hungry, so he fretted a bit, but Abigail slept like an angel. Joe wasn't the one I expected to cry because Mamaw was holding another baby! LOL
Abigail is so tiny she makes Joseph look big. He is only 9 lbs, but she is not quite 5 lbs.
Brayden is walking independently. He hasn't quite figured out how to stand up without holding on to something, but look out. He's almost got it.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-05T22:09:00.002-06:00

I just had the pleasure of spending the day with my extended family. My dad hosts a Christmas Shrimp Boil every year for all of his decendents. We boiled 100 lbs of shrimp, with corn, & potatoes.
We had over thirty of us together. We were missing at least 12. It is great to see all the family together. We added 3 new members to our family this year, and will add at least 1 more next Feb when a nephew gets married.
Our age span was 83 years to 17 days!

Abigail Elizabeth Jones

2009-12-03T17:43:00.002-06:00

Abigail Elizabeth Jones made her debut last night at 6:13 , weighing 5 lbs, 4.5 oz, and measuring 18.5 inches.
She barely made the newborn nursery weight class. Any tinier, she would have automatically been sent to NICU.
She is doing very well. Although, she is a little fussy about feeding.
Jenn is not doing as perky as we had hoped. She is having trouble with a spinal headache. She will probably have to have a blood patch to fix her up. She is seriously horrible pain right now.
I got to babysit Abi while her mom had a CT scan. She was not any trouble at all.

Joseph's Wriggly Wrap

2009-12-01T20:47:00.003-06:00

I finally have pictures of Joseph in his Wriggly Wrap. I knitted this in the summer. A cold front moved through yesterday, and it is now cold enough to put him in the wrap. I used bits and pieces from patterns found on Ravelry, Butterfly Wrap and Button-up Baby Wrap, along with short row heels tutorials to make a 'unwrappable' blanket for Joe. (Without the baby, the silly thing looks like a huge sock. Which it really is, I guess.) He can kick and wriggle all he wants and never kicks off his blanket.

Mamaw's boys

2009-11-24T16:31:00.004-06:00

Brayden and Joseph GO SAINTS!

It's been a busy few days since Joe's birth. We're beginning to settle in. Vanessa is beginning to trust herself. I've been on hand to help, but have tried very hard to teach her and John, not do for them. I've stood within reach of Joe through first baths, and first clothing changing for both of them. Doing it for them in the guise of showing them doesn't really allow them to grow as parents. Both of them are showing signs of relaxing with Joe just a bit.

Jenn, Joe, Brayden, and Abby! (She's in there, too.)

Brayden is a trip. He is just before walking. He will let go and take a few steps. Catch me, Papaw!

He is learning so much so quickly.

Joseph is here!

2009-11-21T10:26:00.003-06:00

Joseph Patrick Rose is here. He was born Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 5 1/2 ounces. He is 19 3/4 inches long.
Vanessa developed toxemia. She had a 9:30 am appointment with her doc. He told her at 9:45 she'd have a baby by noon. He missed it by one minute.

I'm Back!

2009-10-27T19:00:00.002-05:00

It has been a crazy month!
I've had to move my class to a new room. I've gone from a 30'x 30' classroom with a private bathroom (May 2009), to a 21' x 28' room without a bathroom (June 2009), to a 12' x 20' portable building without a sink (Oct 2009). I moved without missing any teaching time. I was expected to move during my off duty time.
Vanessa and Jennifer are doing okay with their pregnancies. Jenn had a kidney stone requiring a stent. Vanessa had pneumonia.
Vanessa is on modified bedrest. Jenn is still working a full workweek. Vanessa is 36 weeks, Jennifer is 32 weeks. Joseph is almost fullterm, he is still at 'wimpy little white boy' though, he needs another 2 weeks to cook. Abigail is in the NICU range, she needs another 4 weeks at least, she is scheduled for Dec 15.
Brayden is not walking yet. He is a blast to have around. He is crawling full speed everywhere. He is learning baby signs. He can tell you he is 'all done', and 'more' 'eat'. He puts his index finger into his mouth for 'eat' instead of putting his fingertips to his mouth. He calls Jenn mommy, and David mom. I'm mamaw, and Buck is mom. He'll get it straight. Jenn and I really rag the boys about being called Mom!

My poor girls

2009-09-20T21:29:00.002-05:00

Vanessa has worked her 3rd day after a week of bed rest. She was having contractions. She is only 31 weeks NOW. She will probably continue having Braxton Hicks contractions until the baby is born in November.
Jenn had a stent placed in a ureter Thursday. She had a blocked ureter from a kidney to her bladder. She could have lost that kidney without the stent. We are very glad she is much better. She will have to have the stent removed after the baby is born.
Dad has to go back to the eye specialist for his retinal vein occulsion. I am praying that this trip will not have any procedures done. He may have to have a laser treatment of some sort.
At least, everyone is taking their turn. I can concentrate on one at a time.

My topsy turvy world continues

2009-08-25T17:17:00.002-05:00

My dad is 82. He told last Friday morning that he couldn't see out of his right eye. At that time, he said everything was blurry. I made an appointment with his eye doctor Monday afternoon. Daddy has a central retinal vein occlusion. He saw his GP this afternoon, he will have carotid artery studies and other tests next week. He will see a retinal specialist tomorrow morning.
Dad is diabetic and his memory is beginning to fade. This eye trouble has thrown him for a loop. I will have to make him give up his driving. None of my siblings are courageous enough to tackle that subject. All I've heard is "Good Luck!"

Bits of this and that

2009-08-22T19:46:00.004-05:00

Vanessa caught a nasty gastro virus Wednesday. She had to be admitted to the hospital 5 am Thursday morning. She had to be on an IV because of dehydration. She and the baby are doing just fine now after being released Friday afternoon. She has put us through our paces this week!

David raced for the first time this year last night. We drove up to Fasttrax Speedway in Chatham, about 1 1/2 hours north of here. He won his heat and finished 6th in the feature event. We were very excited with the night. He and Buck finished replacing his clutch Thursday night. We weren't sure if the car would even hook up right with the new size tires his class has to use. We really needed the hot laps to check the setup

.

Brayden did very well. He carried his stubby wrench with him everywhere he went last night. It makes a very good teething tool. Who knew Craftsman makes teething wrenches? We kept earplugs in his ears anytime he was out of the truck. He liked riding in the car with his daddy while packing the track.

David gave him back to Buck when he realized Brayden was eating clods of mud. He was one grubby little boy when he got home this morning. We got home about 1 am which is actually about 2 hours early.

I was up and out by 7 am this morning for a Sunday School Leadership conference. The most memorable soundbite- "If God is your partner, plan big."

I was home by 12:30, ate 2 breadsticks, and hit the sack. I slept until Buck woke me up about 4:30. WOW!! I slept without meds! Fibromyalgia causes insomnia, and makes it necessary for me to take Ambien to sleep at night. I plan to eat supper, go to Daddy's to give him his meds, and hit the sack again.

Vanessa and John Rose

2009-08-20T19:52:00.002-05:00

Vanessa and John got married Aug 19 at 6:30.
IN MY HOUSE, With SIXTEEN days notice.

I got the flowers done, the dress renovated, the arch decorated, the chair sashes made, the wedding supper for 20 cooked, tablecloths made, the cakes ordered and picked up, and a new dress for me, ties for Buck and John, and a suit for Brayden bought. And the house cleaned, and cleared out for the wedding. Oh, and the carpet shampooed.

All accomplished while starting a new school year in a new classroom teaching a new grade level!

I AM WOMAN!! and in need of sleep!
I can't leave out babysitting a 10 month old several days during the allotted 16 pre-wedding days.

Photos to follow

Wedding plans

2009-08-04T19:52:00.002-05:00

I am definitely meeting myself coming and going. Vanessa is getting married Aug 18. She announced the date Aug 2. I am decorating an arch, remodeling her dress, making chair covers, and chair bows (aisle markers), designing a wedding cake, making a flower girl dress, cleaning the house for a wedding, cooking a wedding supper, and beginning a new school year in a new grade level in a new classroom.

Maternity uniforms

2009-07-22T21:14:00.003-05:00

Vanessa has to wear ceil blue uniforms to work. It is not possible to buy maternity nursing uniforms here. I found the right shade of blue fabric in Hancock Fabrics. I bought the entire length left on the bolt. It will be enough to make a pair of pants and 2 shirts if not more. I will layout the entire length to save yardage. It will be nice to get a third shirt or second pair of pants out of the yardage I bought. I will have to renovate the 2 uniforms she already has. I will use SewChics instructions to add a maternity panel to the pants.

Edit- I was able to make 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants out of the yardage purchased. I used my embriodery features on my new machine to put different motifs on her uniform pockets. One set has V monograms, one set has a stylized flower, and the other set has "It's a boy!" on one pocket and an airplane with a loop-de-loop trail on the other. I used thread that was almost an exact match to the color of the uniforms to do the embriodery.

Tuesday

2009-07-21T20:14:00.003-05:00

Abigail's 5 hour baby sweater is finished. Of course, it was more like a 8 hour sweater for me. I had to frog back about 4 rows of the body, cause I can't tell the difference between a knit side and a purl side. I also frogged each cuff to reknit using smaller needles. I like them better now.
I took it to knit as Buck and I drove to Baton Rouge to see Dr. Mary Elliott. My sonogram was fine, as expected. Dr Mary just spread out the mammogram and sonogram this year to get to know me better since my other surgeon left the practice.
I started to learn to knit in Jan. on the trip to see Dr. Mary. I've done okay in between visits with my knitting.
I am planning Joseph's bedding. I've got to get started on that project. I don't want to go upstairs when Brayden is here. I've too many pins scattered around to let him on the floor. I do a little knitting, and a whole lot of playing while he is here. Not too many babysitting days left before school starts. I sew later.
I've not quilted anything for the lil babies yet. I've got lots planned and some fabrics in my stash earmarked for them. I also have to make a quilt for John. I found the backing fabric in Baton Rouge. Being a man of few words, he grinned a whole lot when he realized I am going to make him a quilt.

Two for Tuesday

2009-07-14T09:42:00.003-05:00

Everyone except Brayden and me are working today. So it's just the 2 of us on this Tuesday. Don't think I need to get out of the house. My little buddy is feeling better, still on his meds. He has not eaten much the last 3 days. I'm going to see what I can tempt him with today. Jenn and I want him to eat as much as possible.

He's napping, the microwave is beeping, and I'm going to eat my oatmeal.

Brayden

2009-07-13T10:51:00.002-05:00

Brayden is sick. His mouth has ulcers all along his upper lip. Both lips are swollen. The gum around his top tooth looks yukky and sore. He doesn't want his bottle very much. Poor Thing! He will see the doctor today to see what's wrong. He's been on amoxicilin, motrin, and tylenol around the clock since sat.

Breezy's tube socks

2009-07-09T22:24:00.004-05:00

I have finished the first pair of tube socks for Breana. The socks are going to be on right any way she can get them on as they are heelless, and have a 6 petal toe. The fellow members of Sockknitters and For the Love of Socks yahoo groups were wonderful in helping me knit the socks.

Lil Baby B

2009-07-09T08:46:00.003-05:00

Lil Baby B is a girl! (99.9% sure) She will most likely be born on Dec 16, 2009, and be named Abigail Elizabeth Jones. The sonographer in the cardiologist's office snuck a peek this week.

Breezy's new socks

2009-07-08T19:13:00.002-05:00

Breezy's first pair of socks are almost finished. I am knitting the foot of the second sock of the pair. I am using a spiral rib pattern for the leg after about 1 inch of 3x3 ribbing. I am making these socks with 6 petal star toes. The feet are stockinette. Breana no longer can put her socks on because she can't turn the socks on her feet to get the heels and toes on correctly. With 6 petal star toes and no heels, she will be able to get these socks on correctly.
The socks are a very quick knit. I cast on the first sock Sunday afternoon. Knittted alot on Monday, finishing the first sock. I will post my knitting notes for the socks so I will be able to recreate them.
The sock's spiralling ribs make me think of a ice cream cone. I will make her a pair of white 'ice cream' socks next.
MANY, MANY THANKS to those of the knitting groups who lead me through creating 'anyway toes' socks for Breezy.

I have a huge pile of fabric to make Joseph's bedding. I will begin sewing all of that after I make Vanessa more maternity clothes.

Our Business Trip to Denver

2009-07-06T15:10:00.005-05:00

This is why we traveled to Denver. We drove up to get this trailer for MA. The truck had 189 miles when Buck got behind the wheel. It was 2 or 3 out of the dealer's lot.

We left home after work May 20 for New Braunfels TX. We stopped in Segiun TX instead about midnight. MA's shop is in New Braunfels. We left there about 10 am on the 21st.

We enjoyed seeing the desert for the first time. We had not been any further west than Corpus Christi before. By the time we left the desert, we had seen our fill of flat, flat landscape. We really missed having trees. We stopped somewhere in west Texas to buy a few things at Wal-Mart. I found a new camera case with a mini tripod. The tripod was the best. I now can appear in pictures!

Our second night was in Santa Fe. We spent a couple of hours being tourists in Santa Fe. We didn't go into the cathedral because of graduation ceremonies being held. Buck bought the girls both a silver ponytail decoration. I got a copper Kachina dancer for the Christmas tree. I loved the street marker for Burro Alley!

We ate in a roadside diner in northern New Mexico. WAY too much good food. Stopped to potty behind a pinon tree.

The afternoon of the 22nd we stopped at Great Sand Dunes National Park. I surprised myself being able to climb up the first few dunes. The creek was very high at the base of the dunes as well as being ice cold.

We left the sand dunes headed for Silverthorne, Co. I love the Rockies! It was a wonderful experience. Even with the rain, it was beautiful. The trooper (who stopped us for not having our headlights on) told us that the snowcaps were from the night before. There wasn't much snow prior to the front that had just moved in .

Waking up in Silverthorne, Co on the 23rd, we raced back up Highway 91 to play in the snow.

I have never seen such snow! IT WAS COLD!!! I was in knee deep snow.

We only had a couple of hours before we had to leave for North Denver to get the trailer. We will go back to Silverthorne.

The idjit we were meeting called MA to say we were hours late. We were to meet him at 'the biggest parking lot around' off of the interstate at noon. OKAY, we stopped at the huge transit lot to the left of the agreed upon exit. No trailer in sight. Several phone calls later, we found him. In a bank parking lot, near a stripmall, about 0.5 miles from the interstate, exit right.

We dragged that trailer to Garden City, Kansas. The stockyards must have been very near to where we were. It smelled like cow poo. Everywhere!

All I can say about GC, KS is that it is on the list of "DO NOT NEED TO RETURN", right under Hot Springs, Arkansas.

We drove straight from Garden City to New Braunfels, TX. Long day, Boring landscapes. We drove for long periods of time without seeing another vehicle. Pulled into the hotel about 11:30 pm. Delivered the truck and trailer after breakfast. Did a walk-through with MA.

Drove all the way back to Jenn and David's after stopping in Alexandria to see John and Vanessa.

Lazy Rainy Day

2009-07-06T13:19:00.006-05:00

It started raining last night and continues on and off today. We really need this rain.

Brayden is really growing! I was looking at some of my pictures this morning. He's going so fast! We are at the Alexandria Zoo in this pictures. Brayden tried his best to catch those fish and turtles.

Don't you just love pouty faces! He has great sadness!

All is well now, Papaw is here!

We were in Natchitoches on the river front. It was as hot as blue blazes!Brayden wore his sunglasses all day.

Life in the crazy lane

2009-07-04T15:30:00.012-05:00

It has been awhile since my last post. I have had lots of things going on around here. The least of which was computer troubles. I had to replace my pc. And then had lots of trouble getting on the internet. David finally had to take it in to get it to recognize whatEVER it was not recognizing. Now it works!

Buck and I made a road trip starting May 20. We drive to New Braunfels Tx, and went to Denver by the way of Santa Fe. But that's another post.

My MIL spent several days in the hospital for chest pain, and later went back in for a heart cath done on outpatient basis. Still no answers why she is having her problems. She suddenly had no energy, lots of nausea, chest pain, (all of the classic female signs of a pending heart attack). Heart cath showed no signs of blockage. Cardiologist wants her to see a lung specialist. That's still pending. Since Granny is ailing, I have Brayden almost every day Jenn works.

Vanessa and I made a trip with Mary to Houston. Breana went to see Dr. Mary Koenig. Dr. Koenig is a pediatric Neurologist specializing in Mitrochrondrial deseases.

While there, Breana got to ice skate. We were eating by the ice rink in the Galleria. Breezy leaning over to me and whispered "I want to do that. I want to i kate". Many thanks to Polar Ice Galleria and "Coach" Cathy. I slipped away from dinner to talk to the rink folks about Breezy skating. I explaned a little about Breezy's mobility problems, and asked what kind of arrangements the rink had for such children. I did not tell them about Leigh's. Cathy agreed to get on the ice for less than 10 minutes. Any longer, and we would have to pay for 'a private session with coach' as well as skate rental and rink time. But, after meeting Breezy, Cathy and Polar Ice Gallera waived all fees.
What was supposed to be a couple of turns around the rink expanded into a 20-25 minute ice skating experience for Breana. She was allowed to make snow with her skates; feel the smooth, cold ice; and at the end, Cathy picked her up and skated fast(er). Breezy had a blast! Cathy never allowed Breana to fall. She spent the entire time bent double holding Breana.

I have had both Jenn and Vanessa in doctors' offices, on the same day, AT THE SAME TIME! Thank goodness the docs shared a waiting room. Vanessa was at the OB, and Jenn was seeing a cardiologist. The same cardiologist Granny saw the afternoon before (I was with her, too)!
Vanessa is having a very painful pregnancy due to fibroids. She had a sonogram, all is well with Joseph Patrick Rose. Jenn was with us when we were able to see Lil Baby A was indeed another boy. The sonographer took a peek at Jenn's baby, but it is still Lil Baby B! Gender yet unknown.
Jenn needed Zabeta to regulate her heart rate and blood pressure. All is okay with her and Lil Baby B. She does not show signs of too much amnionic fluid or gestational diabetes.

I have been knitting like mad: a pair of ankle socks while travelling, several bibs, a couple of washcloths for Mary.

I have lots of yarn for socks. I will make Breezy tube socks with 'any way toes'. She can't put her socks on any longer because she can't turn the socks to get heels and toes straight.

I am making a Wriggly Wrap for Joseph.

It looks like a giant sock or slipper.

Some bug stung Vanessa last Wed. She began to swell and itch like crazy. Her OB sent her to the ER. The ER Doc was very impressed with the wriggly wrap. Every thing is now ok with Vanessa.

I am making Joseph's nursery bedding. John and Vanessa like "Jungle Babies" by Patty Reed Designs. I am using the quilted panel for the center of his quilt top. I will make it large enough to use on a toddler bed. I will make a straight bed skirt, bumper pads, and a diaper stacker. I also have a fabric book panel that maybecome wall hangings. Simplicity has a pattern, 3954, using this fabric line. I have several pieces of fabric not shown on the pattern. I have a 'giraffe spots' print, and a piece that is stripes of the different prints in the line.

Breana

2009-05-17T10:06:00.002-05:00

The genetic tests are in. The doctor wants Jimmy and Ana to go to New Orleans for a consulation. Breana has a Miticondrial Disease, probably a form of Leigh's Disease. This is very grim for our beautiful little girl. She will begin school with me in the fall. I am determined to have her with me. Pray for Breana and all of us.

Bible Quote

2009-04-20T18:09:00.002-05:00

…We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed
1 Corinthians 15:51

Jenn's Aunt Ginger had this quote in her card for the baby shower. It seems apt for me at this time.

Quilting for babies

2009-04-19T14:56:00.004-05:00

I have to get into gear. I have lots of quilts to make for the coming babies. I really set myself up for quilting with Brayden. I made lots of quilts for him. LOTS OF QUILTS. I can't have the Lil Babies thinking Mamaw didn't want them just as much as Brayden.

I have two crib/toddler bed quilts to make to use in our nursery here. I have some of the focus fabric left from Brayden's quilt. I will use it as accents, as it is not available now. I was able to get a lot of the other fabrics I used. I will make each quilt look similiar but not make matchy matchy quilts. These quilts will be made to fit a toddler bed for future use. I will also make matching bumper pads and a pillowcase for each baby. This is Brayden's quilt. I used a Serger Baby Quilt pattern I found on line. BUT tweaked the instructions a bit. I used a strip double the width of the other strips to make the edges. I hand sewed the mitered corners after I used my sewing machine to sew the edge down. This is a really fast quilt to make. I've made a couple. I cut the strips 3 or 3 1/2 inches WOF. I also used my sewing machine alot instead of my serger. If I missed catching the complete sandwich of fabrics and batting, I usually used the DSM to catch the seams to make not to cut off too much with the serger. This quilt is washed often. It holds up well.

I will make each new baby a black and white play quilt. I want each of the babies to have their own. I could just use the one I made for Brayden, but , I want each baby to have one of its own. This quilt has been washed often also. It has been spit on often. It is very loud in the dryer. It has plastic teething rings attached by the book at the top.

The count is up to 4 quilts.

I have the material for a softball themed quilt for Lil Baby A. That's the fabric I picked up for the baby when we learned about the first baby, now referred to as Lil Baby A. Its mom played softball from Kindergarten to Graduation. I was thrilled to find SOFTBALL not baseball fabric. I also found a fabric that has 'pitch' printed on it with softballs. Yes, she was a pitcher.

I've known about Lil Baby B less than 1 week. I don't have special fabric for it yet. I've been babysitting Brayden and waiting out spring rains. Not shopping in LQS.

I'll be glad to know these babies' names so I can stop calling them Lil Baby A or Lil Baby B. Brayden is our big baby.

The count is now at 6 quilts, minimum. Brayden got that many or more. Better get busy.

Babies, Babies, and More Babies

2009-04-18T10:06:00.002-05:00

My grandson, Brayden is 6 months old. He will be one on October 8. He is my only grandchild right now. NOT FOR LONG!!!! He will be joined by babies before Christmas. That's right, BABIES! There will be two babies this winter. Lil Baby A is due Nov. 27, and Lil Baby B is due Dec 14.

Exuberant Joy!

2009-04-14T12:48:00.004-05:00

Happy Easter! Glory to God in the highest!
Take a look at the exuberant Cross made by Wanda Hanson at Exuberant Color. This is an absolutely beautiful, and very spiritual quilt. I've had to revisit her blog just to see this quilt several times since she posted pictures. I'd love to see it in a church. I've asked permission to make one from her design for our church.

Brayden's socks

2009-03-29T18:56:00.000-05:00

This is the first pair of socks knit for Brayden. 100% cotton for his sweaty feet!

Where's that baby?

2009-03-29T10:26:00.000-05:00

Brayden is growing in leaps and bounds. Mr. Cool Dude weighs in at 22 pounds. He is just shy of 6 months.

I have a heel!

2009-03-17T10:14:00.003-05:00

I am knitting a sock. My sock now has a heel.

I want to knit socks. I am using Silver's Sock Class 2 circular needles toe up sock tutorials. I substituted "the easiest short row heel ever" for the wrapped stitch short row heel in Silver's tutorial. I ripped out the heel so many times I was afraid the sock's heel was going to be worn out before I wore the socks.

My sock looks like a sock, feels like a sock, and fits like a sock. I like it a lot better now than I did 2 hours ago.

(I didn't say it was a pretty heel.)

Brayden's bunny

2009-03-13T21:45:00.003-05:00

Brayden loves his knitted bunny. He is beginning to teeth. He chews on that bunny for all he's worth. I knitted it from white 100% cotton yarn because I couldn't stand the thought of him chewing on acrylic yarn.
I have finished Vanessa's Toesties slippers. I haven't touched her scarf. I finished the second hat for Brayden. I have ripped it out and rewound the yarn into a ball. It was horrible. It was hopeless.

Shingles!

2009-03-13T21:09:00.003-05:00

I have the shingles. ON MY FACE!!! 2 or 3 people (aged 20 to 50) in 1000 who have had chickenpox develop shingles. Of those 2 or 3, only 7 to 10% have them on their face! Because I teach Kindergarten, my doctor put me on Medical leave until March 23. I can give chickenpox to others.
Since I had Brayden last night, Jen decided he could continue to stay here this weekend. He is either going to break out in Chickenpox or he's not. He has already been exposed to me. The doc said that the virus was only skin contact, not airborne.
I'll have an extra week of unexpected time off. I'll get lots of crafty time in.

Edited to add: after a week of quarantine, I returned to the doctor's. IT'S NOT SHINGLES. It's rosecea. Which is what I thought when I went to the doc's in the first place. I have rosecea, have had it for years. BUT in her words, this is the best case of rosecea mimicing trigeminal shingles she's ever seen. (but, no refund for meds or office visits)

The Triplets

2009-03-03T18:02:00.007-06:00

The Tessellating Stars quilts are finished. Bindings machine sewn, washed, dried, and delivered! Finally, finally finished.

I have written in Sharpe, on the machine on the quilter frame, SINGER NEEDLES ONLY. I refuse to spend another six weeks trying to figure out why the machine won't sew.

Knitting is progressing quite well. I've knitted Brayden a hat and bunny. Breana has a bunny in Homespun. I have knitted myself a pair of Flat Toesties slippers. The hat is Bernat Baby Jacquards yarn. The slippers and Brayden's bunny are Peaches and Cream 100% cotton.

This hat was knitted flat. It has some major flaws. (It seems that I can't count to 2.) But it will do to take him out in the yard here. It has a little grow room, so I'm knitting the new larger.

I have 3 projects on needles at this time, Vanessa wants a pair of Toesties. I will try to knit these in the round. I also have a scarf for her going as well.

The project I'm really into is a hat knit in the round for Brayden. I'm using the same yarn as the first hat. But I've increased the number of stitches cast on, and I'm knitting this one on a circular needle. It's going well in the K2 P2 ribbing stage. We'll see when it is time to start the Broken Rib part and its decreases.

Tesselating Stars Triplets

2009-03-01T16:10:00.003-06:00

The 3 Tesselating Stars quilts are now quilted. Bindings are in progress. I am sick and tired of these quilts! I am tired of that dern machine I've been trying to quilt with! There's nothing like being 2 months late with gifts!

Singer needles only!!!!

2009-03-01T08:55:00.006-06:00

I have a DSM with a table frame my husband fabricated for me in his spare time. The machine I have on it is worn out and useless for garment sewing. (It lost reverse.) I have a new Singer I use for garment and quilt sewing.

BACK to the machine I now use for machine quilting. It stitches well. I broke a needle in February. I replaced the needle in FEBRUARY, of course. As I have many times. . . . The machine would not sew. I checked every thing possible. Another new needle. . . . rethreaded . . . . new needle again. . . . new thread. . . . new bobbin. . . . on and on and on AND onnnnnn.

Before throwing the dern thing down the stairs, I bought new needles, again. This time I bought Singer needles. The DERN machine sews perfectly. PERFECTLY!!!! This machine demands Singer needles, and SINGER needles only. IT IS NOT A SINGER SEWING MACHINE! IT IS A KENMORE.

Tessellating Stars triplets

2009-02-01T14:36:00.002-06:00

I have the backings sewn for the 3 tessellating star quilts I am making for my mother-in-law, and DH's sisters. I like pieced backs better than plain ones. I am ready (FINALLY) to start quilting these 3. It has become a family joke about who is getting their quilt first. ALL three ladies will be on hand before any quilt is handed over. LOL!!
Buck and I have done some minor changes to my DSM quilting frame. I have high hopes that these changes will be the answers to some minor problems.

I have been bitten by the knitting bug.
Lilli, a lunch buddy at school, is knitting socks at lunch. She is very kind and knowledgeable about knitting. She learned to knit in elementary school. She grew up in Germany. Knitting was part of the Home Ec curriculum in her elementary school.
I have knitted the grandbaby a bunny. Now I am working on 2 projects. I am making Breana a bunny. Bunnies are very simple. A 6 inch square is knitted in stockingette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row). 2 ears are knitted (knit all rows). The square is sewn tegether in such a way to make a head, and 4 legs. I stuffed Brayden's bunny with quilt batting. I wanted stuffing that wouldn't come out of the body. I want to have a few bunnies on hand for Breana's visits to the doctors. I will call them Bobo Bunnies. I think she can keep one with her during all of the procedures she will have to endure.
I am also trying to knit socks. Sock knitting is definitely a WISP! (Work In Slow Progress). I have double pointed needles and sock yarn, and lots of TV time. I can cast on quite well due to the extra practice I've had due to maistakes in the sock knitting process!

Breana and Jimmy

2009-02-01T14:09:00.003-06:00

Please pray for our family.
We are still waiting for a diagnosis for Breana.
However, Jimmy, Breana's daddy, is scheduled for surgery Wednesday on his skull. He is going to get a plate put in where he had a brain tumor removed in July 2007. This is his 4th surgery. His tumor was removed in July 07, with his skull bone replaced during that surgery. Late 2007, he had the bone replaced with a plate because the bone wouldn't fuse back to the rest of the skull. In Sept 2008, the plate had to be removed because of infection that would not clear up. He has been without a skull bone or plate since. It has been really scary to think of a 23 year old male living without a large part of his skull. The place is as big as my palm just above his right ear.
Breana usually stays with me when her parents are away in the hospital. It is always interesting to have a 3 year old in the house.
Breana is scheduled to have an evaluation for placement in the special education system of our parish. The eval is basically a formality because of her condition. She will qualify.

My computer is destined for the TRASH HEAP!!!! It has decided not to allow me to email commenters. It will be replaced within the month. It is a dinosaur. I am barely computer literate. I don't know how to fix the problems the computer creates for me.
I apologize for appearing to be rude. I'm thankful for all comments.

Quilts to the flimsy stage

2009-01-10T12:42:00.003-06:00

I have the last 3 Christmas quilts ready to be sandwiched and then quilted. They are Tessellating Stars for Buck's mom and 2 sisters.

The blocks are 9" square. Each quilt is 5 blocks by 5 blocks.

I used scraps of the fabrics to make top and bottom borders for each quilt. I wanted to make the quilts rectangles instead of squares.

It's a new year, ya'll!

2009-01-09T21:53:00.002-06:00

It is wonderful having a baby to enjoy this new year. I can't believe how fast he is growing. He is 3 months old already. I won't get much quilting done tomorrow, as Brayden and David will be here.
This is the quilt I made for Brayden for Christmas. It is different textures and shades of blue and white. It is really very pretty. Jenn says it is her favorite of all of the quilts I have made for him to date.
I used large squares of different textured fabric for this quilt. The squares were about 9". The fabrics included flannel, fleece ( the bubbly ducks), velour (with raised dots), satin, terry towelling, and a 'shiny curly lamb's wool-looking' fabric that is very soft to the touch. I really don't know any of the fabric by name. I think all of them came from Hobby Lobby. Every fabric is washable on delicate and in cold water, and can be tossed in the dryer. I serged this one to make sure none of the fabrics frayed. The backing is a 24" square of blue flannel printed with clouds with a border of 6 1/2" squares of all of the quilt fabrics.
I learned the evening that the term for the 'binding' method I used on this quilt is called the Birthing Method. I just layered the quilt top wrong side down on the batting, and topped it off with the backing right sides together with the top. Sewed around the edges with about a 1/2" seam leaving an opening large enough to turn the thing right side out. I then topstitched around the edge to keep everything together and also to stitch the opening closed.
David and Buck are planning on digging a ditch from the house to the shop to bury the electrical line tomorrow. I will be watching the baby, not using a shovel. The ground is very wet and softer than normal, so digging will be easier now than later.

Pray for Breana

2009-01-08T18:16:00.004-06:00

My heart is heavy as I write this post. I've not posted much in the last couple of weeks in part due to Breana's circumstances. I've not been able to put the words down to discuss the terrible plight of our family. My grandneice, Breana, is ill with a mitachondrial disease. Mitachondrial diseases vary in their severity, and she is not yet diagnosed with a specific one. Her doctor is expecting test results for diagnosis within the month. These diseases are very dire.
Breana, only 3 years and 4 months old, is the only child of my sister's only child. Being an Early Interventionist, I know her future is very grim.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T23:01:00.003-06:00

It's after 11 and I'm still madly quilting. It will take a miracle for all of the quilts to be finished by Christmas. I've gifted 3 more quilts this week, 2 snuggle Bargelloes for 2 grandneices, and a disappearing nine patch for a grandnephew.
This is in addition to 2 train quilts, 2 bargelloes, 1 simple stars, and 1 monkey wrench(also known by churn dash).
There is a Kindergarten teacher in Arkansas who must hate me! One grandnephew is so tickled with his train quilt he took it to school for his nap quilt. I teach K, and I know what a stir that quilt caused when I took to school to use as a visual for my lesson on quilts. (Quilt is a great Q word!! )
I have pieced 2 Tessellating Star tops for my in-laws and need 2 others. These really need to be at to the flimsy stage before the new owners can know about them. A note with 'some assembly required' will be attached to each flimsy and backing. I will return them quilted by the end of the month.

Wacky Week of Weather

2008-12-11T11:18:00.002-06:00

This has been the weirdest week of weather in Central La.
Monday was a windy day, with a front moving in.
Tuesday brought a tornado touching down just about 2 blocks from the school, during the school day! My Kindergarteners got a special lesson in 'ducking and covering' and 'practicing to be safe' using their naptime covers. They really enjoyed the change of routine and were very cooperative with staying down and covered. I was terrified the tornado would move our way. Thanks to the Lord it did not. The kids thought they were practicing like we do for fire drills and lockdowns.
Wednesday added lots of rain and very cold weather. It didn't make it out of the 40's. Central Louisiana, remember. It was in the upper 70's Tuesday!
Thursday brought rain/sleet/snow throughout the area. School is closed because of the danger of putting the busses on the road with icy streets and overpasses. No chains around here, we expect hurricanes, not ice.
I can't wait for Friday!

Thanks to Julia, Scrap Happy Quilter

2008-12-11T11:13:00.003-06:00

Julia sent 3 quilts to be given to children who do not have covers for nap time in my Kindergarten class. They are beautiful quilts, cherished by those who received them. I have not told the children the quilts are theirs to keep because the others would riot. Have you ever had 13 really angry Kindergarteners on your hands? LOL. I will send the quilts home at the end of school this year. I will post pics as soon as I have them. It is the next to last week of school before Christmas.
Thank you, Julia

Thanks given for Thanksgiving!

2008-11-24T08:33:00.002-06:00

I do not have to work this week! School is closed for the week. I can sew and quilt until my fingers are numb and my heart is content.
I am working on Christmas presents for a lot of my clan. I have 2 train quilts ready to be quilted. They required a lot of applique. I don't even like to applique. But the boys will love them, as train crazy as they are. I have another ready to be sandwiched to be quilted. I have the fabric pulled for a soccer playing boy's quilt. I need one more boy quilt and 3 little girls' quilts. I have fabric for one. That's only the ones needed by Dec 6.
I have a third train quilt that is now being enlarged to twin-sized. His new room will have a train theme. Mom asked me to make his quilt big enough to be his bedspread. He won't get his quilt by the 6th.
I need to make quilts for mil and 2 sil, and one neice for the 25th.
In all of the quilting and piecing yesterday, I made christmas tree napkins.

Renovation of the quilter

2008-11-13T18:17:00.005-06:00

Progress is being made on the quilter. I was mulling over the lack of ability to keep the quilt poles from moving freely on the quilter. This is a flaw in our design I discovered while working on the wonkey monkey quilt. I had to hold the finished quilt pole at times after it got heavy with quilted quilt.
I keep thinking on the way home from school about the different things I saw on line to keep the quilt tight on the various frames. Things that clicked and held, stopping the reverse movement. "Kinda like a ratchet." Click and hold, click and hold , like a ratchet... LIKE A RATCHET!!! Ratchets have a thingie on the back to switch from righty tighty to lefty loosey. That will allow one on the right end and one on the left end to click and hold in the same direction.
I came up with the idea of welding sockets to the poles. Then attaching the sockets to a ratchet on each end. The rachets will be secured to the sides of the quilter to keep them from moving. This would allow me to move the poles to advance the quilt, and prevent the poles from slipping backwards.
Master craftsman Buck agreed that the ratchets & welded sockets idea would work. He has to replace 2 poles because he can't weld the metal of the original set. Hey, I didn't know what could be welded or not. He is even donating 6 ratchets and 6 sockets to the cause.
We'll probably get the poles tomorrow afternoon, but work on the quilter Sunday. We are racing Saturday. Thank goodness we're taking the motorhome. I won't freeze.

Wonderful Weather!

2008-11-12T16:57:00.003-06:00

We have rain! Wonderful, beautiful rain!!! It has rained for most of 2 days. I can't remember when we got so much rain! Wait, it was during Hurricane Gustav. Before that, it was a very long time since we got 2 days of slow rain. Gustav rain was hard fast flooding rain. Too much at one time! This is good rain.
I spent Veterans' Day up in the attic quilting. Actually it was appliquing. I am making 3 of Sindy's (fatcatpatterns) All Aboard train quilts for Christmas presents. I made 21 boxcars yesterday (pics to come). I have the pieces for the 3 locomotives and the 3 cabooses ready to applique. I have the backings ready to piece.
I quilted my first quilt on the quilting frame Buck made for my old Kenmore. It is basically a whole cloth quilt with a narrow border. It is about 45" square. It is a jungle animal theme using 2 matching prints. You know, prints from the same line. I have the 3rd print I bought to make Prairie Points with, but I don't think I will waste the fabric on this ugly mess. It is pathetic! It is hilariously wonky. It is too bad to post a picture of. I may have to frog some of it and redo some stitching just to be able to use it to throw on the floor for Brayden. But it was a great learning quilting experience. I learned a lot from my mistakes.
Using my quilter for the first time pointed out some mistakes with it. I adjusted some things such as taking the front connecting PVC pipes off. I adjusted the Craftsman (screwdriver) stylus. I also sewed bias binding on the leader that did not use the selvedge.
I am using up stash fabric for quilting practice. I will use the 3'x4' practice products as nap covers in my K class. Some kids don't have any cover for naptime. I gave some of them the mat they sleep on in the first place. They won't get covers from home either. I'll just have to use new batting and thread as the fabric will come from my stash. It is amazing how much fabric I can identify as being bought to make clothes for the kids (and not used).
The baby has thrush. He had lots of tests Monday to diagnose the cause of the hydronephrosis. No results yet. He is on prophaltic (sp?) antibotics which probably caused the thrush. He got the first round of shots Tuesday. Poor little thing!
I haven't seen him since Sunday morning when David picked him up. They were so exhausted Saturday night after the Pecan Festival Buck and I kept the baby overnight. Brayden didn't keep me up all night. He would grunt every 45 minutes to an hour. I'd locate his pacifier for him. He'd go back to sleep. I got up with him at about 4 because he had "muddy britches". He would have keep sleeping. Muddy britches don't bother him. But he did decide after he woke up that he hadn't seen food in forever.

No quilting today!

2008-11-08T11:07:00.002-06:00

Today I will not quilt, piece, or do any other sewing. Today, I will be mawmaw. I will rock, change, and feed Brayden. He will be with us until about 9 this evening. We will read, rock, and visit. We will enjoy ourselves enormously.
Martha

New buzz in my head

2008-11-04T09:32:00.006-06:00

I have an idea for a quilt I want to make buzzing around inside my head. It is inspired by the children's book Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott. I read the book to my K class yesterday. I could hardly read the book for thinking "This would make a great quilt. It's even angular. Look at the colors against the black. I've got to start drawing up designs for a quilt." I have already purchased fat quarters in rainbow colors with yardage in black. I've been turning ideas around in my head for a rainbow quilt set in sashings of black. I'm still thinking of rainbow strings with black. AND this fabric I used in Brayden's Busy Boy quilt.Got to get to the fabric store to see if any is left!! I can't wait to see where this will end up.

Errands call- 1. Vote 2. cleaning supplies from Wal-Mart 3. Nora Robert'sTWO new books 3. pick up Brayden for the afternoon. Yep, save the best for last.

Martha

All Saints Day

2008-11-01T17:35:00.002-05:00

I hope all had a happy Halloween yesterday. I spent the day today sewing. However, I have been making Vanessa a pirate costume for belated Halloween party tonight. See what we do for our kids.
Brayden slept through his first Halloween. He dozed off just as Jenn and David left home to take him on his first Trick or Treat tour of the family. He woke up just as they got back home. He stayed up most of the night.
I found a onesie for him today. It is white with red writing: Silent Night? Yeah right! It is perfect for him. He is still working nights.

Finished Quilts, WIP

2008-10-27T18:39:00.005-05:00

This is the quilt I worked on the day Brayden was born. I saved the binding project for the delivery day 'cause I knew I would need busy hands while waiting. The chick was handpainted by Buck's brother Steven. I disassembled a toy from Wal-mart to get the book and the teething rings. (and the squeaker in the chick) Can you tell I'm an Early Interventionist? This is one stimulating quilt.

This the Meghen's quilt. My mama taught me this block. It was probably the only one she knew. She HATEDHATEDHATED sewing. I made a quilt for Matthew when he was born using this pattern.

Here is a quilt I made using one of Marcia's patterns again. This is her woven ribbons pattern with a little tweaking by me.

These is a rail fence. He need floor quilts. It is flannel.

This is his crib quilt for my house. It is a serger quilt. I found the pattern online. It is a quilt as you go pattern. Each side is the same.

Last week of October? Already?!

2008-10-27T17:43:00.006-05:00

I can't believe this year has flown by so fast. I have less than a month before I will put up my Christmas tree!!! Have I bought any gifts??? Yes, 3. 3 trucks for the littlest boys on my list. The 3 who still like gifts, no matter what they are!!! I'd better get into gear.

We had our 3rd annual family pumpkin carving contest Thursday.

Jenn proclaimed herself the winner. She says she made the cutest pumpkin this year. I have to agree. He's adorable!

We always have lots of fun.

Brayden and I made Hot Chocolate while everyone else carved pumpkins. Who can ask for a better helper.

We had an off year. We usually carve more pumpkins than 8. Too many conflicting schedules.

I was shooting these pics in the dark. I don't know how to improve the quality.

Sundays

2008-10-26T09:54:00.003-05:00

Good Sunday Morning to ya'll.
We've already had a breakfast of french toast. Vanessa is off to work. Her boss is going to get fussed at by his mother-in-law because Vanessa can't have Sunday dinner with her granny today! Vanessa works at a local grocery store managed by her Uncle Bradley. Granny is going to fuss because Vanessa had to pull a shift today. Bradley is very good about not favoring V, and she works very hard for him. BUT Granny doesn't seem to think she should have to miss Sunday dinner.
(A bit of southern vocabulary - ya'll is the plural you, rhyming with ball; dinner is the midday meal, supper is the evening meal, children eat lunch at school)
David raced last night. He was top 5 in the feature with 14 cars in his class. He was able to drive the car on the trailer, and nothing was destroyed. All in all, it was a good night for us. We put Brayden's name on the car. David refused to allow me to even order it until Brayden got here safe and sound. Our graphics man, Michael James of Apple Signs, didn't charge us. He said first grandbabies were on the house.

Martha

The joys of Fibromaylgia

2008-10-25T07:53:00.004-05:00

It is finally cool here in Louisiana. The low last night was in the 40's. We will be in the upper 70's or low 80's today. Later next week, the temp is expected to stay in the upper 60's!!!
HOWEVER, along with the cooler temperatures, I am having a major fibro flare. I have over taxed myself this week and am paying for it now! We had that cold front move in Thursday while my K class went to the zoo (zero parental support, NO chaperones came, NONE), I attended the LAECA conference out of town Friday driving about 6 hours, and today will go out of town again for the races another 3 hours in the truck and being outdoors 5 or 6 hours. I can't leave out babysitting Brayden last evening.
I have a good pain meds on hand. I think I'll go down and find something to help ease this pain. I'm going to have to go for the big guns today. I always try to dull the pain without taking the heavier meds in order to be able to continue to teach. I will not take my more powerful drugs and go in to teach. I want to know I am not loopy or going to become loopy in the classroom.
I'm not going to whine anymore. I'm just going to go away.

Martha

This and that

2008-10-20T17:26:00.005-05:00

Things have been very busy in our neck of the woods lately. Brayden is here now. It's wonderful to have a brand new baby in the family. It's been a while since we've had one. He weighed 8 lbs, and is 20 inches long. He was born Oct 8. Brayden in his Moses basket. Buck and I babysat him on the 15th.
Brayden and Aunt Vanessa
Buck has my quilter built. I have to learn to use it now. I'm just a little scared to try machine quilting with the frame. The carriages roll very easy. I've been practicing tracing a pattern with the "stylus" without stitching. I just have to take a deep breath and give it a go!

There is a surge protector mounted between the 2 cabinets. The machine and the light plug in there. The machine can go from end to end without any tangles. The foot pedal reaches the floor. I guess I can nudge it along as I quilt. Or maybe it needs its own carriage and track, too.

I guess I'll see the design flaws as I begin to use the quilter. If anyone sees something that needs to be changed, please let me know. I will appreciate the experience you can bring to me. I don't have to reinvent the wheel, or make a mistake someone else has already worked through. I don't intend to make quilts bigger than about 4'x6'. I think that the space around the lower pipe will accomodate the batting needed for a quilt that size.
Details of the stylus: Buck will never use this screwdriver in the shop again!!!

Side tensioning devices: eyebolts, bungee cords, and clamps on a keyring

The camera didn't like the light, but it is really very well lit. The light clamps on the pvc pipe almost anywhere I want it. I can see the design I printed from Simone Struss' website very easy. (Yes, you do see staples in the design paper. I didn't have any tape in the house except duct tape or electrical tape. I'm just practicing moving the machine over the design right now, not stitching yet.)

The carriages:

This is my bonus room upstairs in my house. The contractor told the appraiser that it was a completely finished room AFTER we signed the papers to build the house. So... I got a completely finished room instead of an attic storage space. We built our house in 2005. Remember Hurricanes Katrina and Rita? Yep, they delayed our house. In fact, the bank stopped the "45 days until closing" timeline because of them. We were blessed not to have any damage to the house from Rita. (We didn't even get rain from Katrina in our parish.) But the door factory in south La was literally blown off the face of the earth, and our carpet could not be delivered from the mill in Georgia.

I am converting this space into a combination guest room and sewing room. I had been using my son's room downstairs for a sewing room until I got to buy a baby bed and a rocker for Brayden.

I moved junk all weekend.

The cabinets are red oak with a raw plywood top. I don't know what I want on the tops yet. The cabinets were in the kitchen of the house we used to live in before we built this one. We tore it down before it fell down. (The upper cabinets are in the garage.)
Don't you like the decorating theme? It is truly Early American Attic!! It includes one very ugly, but comfortable recliner from Buck's grandpa.

I think we are racing this weekend. David did very well the last time he raced, 2 2nds and a 4th.This is David's car. Buck and David built the body on this car from sheet metal. It is a Chevy Camaro with original hood and trunk lid.

This is David. I also have pictures of the things a mother of a racing son finds in her way. David's engine blew up this summer. He bought new heads for the new engine.

This is my ironing closet. This is a bonus closet underneath the stairs. The framing crew foreman refused to allow the contractor to leave this space unfinished and without a door. It is perfect for my ironing board. It can stay out all of the time.

Under my ironing board is a set of heads for the racecar. They could not stay in the shop overnight. They could not be left in the garage either. They had to be in the house. They stayed in the house until they were put in the engine.

Brayden William Jones

2008-10-07T17:44:00.002-05:00

It's official! Brayden will be born October 8, 2008. The OB was shocked when he saw how big Jenn was. She measured 49 weeks. Yep, that's FORTY-NINE weeks.

My Wonderful Husband!

2008-09-28T17:51:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I casually asked my husband, Buck, if we had a few extra grand laying around. Imagine his laughter!! When he stopped laughing, he asked what I wanted. I then showed him several longarm quilting machines. He thoughtfully looked them over with only one comment. "Huh."

Believe me, that was it as far as I was concerned. I KNOW we don't have that kind of spending money.

This afternoon, he came into the house from his shop. He had with him 2 carriages he has fabricated out of metal. He welded square tubing into 2 rectangles and added wheels. They stack one atop the other. They glide like butter.
He wanted know if I thought my old sewing machine would work on them. (They are exactly the right size for the machine.)
He explained that he has the wood to make a table. "How wide does it need to be? I have the tracks to move the machine from end to end. "

I guess he paid more attention than I thought. He has also done a bit of research on this on his lunch hour. I've started taking pictures of the project, but he asked me not to include them until he is finished. His reason-he missed a spot when he painted the carriages. As if I care about a bit of welding color.

Just a note- I picked him out when I was 16. I knew he was a keeper
Martha

Here I am

2008-09-28T09:49:00.002-05:00

I've been quilting all summer, and just today decided to set up my blog. I am not sure I am computer literate enough to do more than read someone else's blog. But here goes, straight in the deep end of the pool.

There is a really, really, REALLY good reason I began to quilt again this year. My first grandbaby will be here October 13! Brayden William is almost here. He really couldn't be expected to sleep under a store-boughten blanket, could he? (grin)
I've made lots of quilts for the baby, mostly small wrap up the baby sized. This is a 'racing quilt' for the baby. The pattern is a simple rail fence I manipulated for a layout on the design floor some family members think is the foyer. (Silly people) The colors are the colors of flags used in dirt track racing. We have a car Brayden's daddy races. Papaw decided on the color scheme. We needed an appropriate quilt for the racing season next year. The back is a print featuring NASCAR racing. (Machine quilted on a Singer sewing machine.)

Isn't Jenn tiny! Her belly really looks like a fake belly actresses use to pretend to be preggy. Happy 49th, Buck!

Brayden really needs to wait until Friday. My son, David (25), who is Brayden's daddy, just flew out this a.m. for Salt Lake for a conference. He will be gone until Thursday night 9 pm. This conference is critical for his job. He has to get the certification from this meeting.

My DIL, Jenn, really wants to have this baby. She is past the miserable stage. It has been a really rough pregnancy for her.

I have a darling daughter, Vanessa, who is 22.. She works at a local grocery store while attending a technical college for LPN. This is her quilt I made for her in one weekend. She asked
for this quilt one Saturday night. "Can you bring it to metomorrow?" Thanks to Marcia at http://www.quilterscache.com/ for a relatively quick and fast pattern. It is her Square Within Squares 2 pattern. I used a solid purple for the centers of the blocks (the picture lies, all of the centers are the same), and a small purple calico for the top left and bottom right corners of each square. The remaining part is a fabric with an all-over tie dye effect ranging from green thru teal into pink. The back is a short pile turned to the front with an extra deep binding. I machine quilted this thing on a regular sewing machine. I haven't made myself frog (rip it, rip it) the rippled binding yet. Maybe later. This puppy went from uncut yardage Friday night to the bed Sunday evening.

It must be an unwritten blogger rule: quilt spread out, camera ready, someone climbs on the quilt! Meet Breana, my 3 year old grandneice. "I need to read, Aunt Martha." See her books on the bookshelf. She puts them away herself.